Members of the Borger High School Choir and Band recently traveled to San Antonio and Corpus Christi on their biennial trip. The group of seventy-seven students and adult sponsors departed Borger High School at 6:00 am on June 4th. After a lunch stop in Abilene, the two charter buses arrived in San Antonio, greeted by light rain and heavy traffic. The group ate at the Hard Rock Cafe’ on the San Antonio Riverwalk. The students could explore the Riverwalk after their meal. The next morning, the group stopped at the Alamo, a Texas shrine to freedom. After a short history background briefing, the students walked through the Alamo. As it was raining heavily, the students were also allowed to explore the Rivercenter Mall, St. Joseph’s Church and other attractions around the vicinity of the Alamo. The rain had stopped by the time the group boarded their coaches for the short ride to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, where they spent the afternoon. That evening, the group was fed and entertained at the Magic Time Machine.
The group left the next morning for Corpus Christi. Their first stop was USS Lexington CV-16. The Lexington is a retired US Navy aircraft carrier that now serves as a museum on Corpus Christi Bay. The students performed a concert on board the historic warship, which included Anchors Aweigh, the Navy Hymn, and various patriotic songs. They concluded their performance with the Borger High School alma mater, which the Borger HS Choir sang. After their concert, the students toured the ship. Next, they visited the Texas State Aquarium, a state-of-the-art facility mere steps from USS Lexington. While they were there, the students viewed aquatic exhibits, a dolphin show, and various hands-on presentations. The group was scheduled to attend a Corpus Christi Hooks/ Amarillo Sod Poodles baseball game that evening, but with lightning and storms in the area, the game was canceled.
The next morning, the BHS group boarded their coaches and traveled to Port Aransas, where they were treated to a dolphin cruise on the Gulf on Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay. They were treated to the sight of dolphins playing in the wake of a large ship that was entering the ship channel. The boat’s crew, while pointing out various points of interest, put out a shrimping net. The net was later emptied into a shallow tank on the boat, where the boat’s crew allowed the students to see and touch various marine life, such as crabs, shrimp, puffer fish, rays and small redfish. After lunch, the group spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the beach. After cleaning up at the hotel, the group ate supper at Whataburger by the Bay, a large burger restaurant with a great view of downtown Corpus Christi. Whataburger, coincidentally, was founded in Corpus Christi.
On the last day of the trip, the group traveled back to San Antonio, where they ate lunch at Pico de Gallo, a historic Tex Mex restaurant in downtown San Antonio. On the way back to Borger, the group stopped in Rhineland, a small German Catholic community on the Brazos, about 75 miles north of Abilene. Rhineland was the childhood home of Borger Band director Kevin Kuehler. They were treated to supper by Mr. Kuehler’s mother, Dayle Kuehler, with help from other family and community members. In return, the Borger HS Band and Choir performed a concert for Mrs. Kuehler, her family, and the Rhineland community. The busses arrived back to Borger High School at about 12:30 am Saturday night.
The choir and band trip was a voluntary trip, with students paying for their way with fundraisers and family support. The band and choir would like to thank the administration of Borger ISD for allowing them to make this trip, as well as their parents and the community of Borger for supporting their various fundraisers.